New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-22
THE STORY OF AN OLD VETERAN.
TALE THAT SHOULD BIZ READ BY EVERY Loyal
AMERICAN WHO LIVES IN EASE AND IN CON-

A TALE THAT SHOULD BIZ READ BY EVERY LoYAk
AMERICAN WHO LIVES IN EASE AND IL A CON-
PORTABLE HOME
MILLgRs Orleans Co., N. Y, May 23.-Knowtns
that your paper has the largest circulation that ~
columns read by the greatest number Of inteii'
gent readers always in favor Of principle | would
like to reach them all with a few words. The boys
I'm blue saved the nation, and when their services
were no longer needed they returned to their homes
Many years have passed Tens CT thousands OF ths
boys have been mustered out The eternal camping
ground has the larger number. Yearly, brigade OK
them passes away STILL in every town III tho
land men yet live who brayed the patuenen, en-
dured the hardships Of the march and statVn in
prison pens.
an age that a large number disabled, unable to
earn living They are supported by the =. A. *,
IOsts and by private charity, and Unjust write ~
many are In the poor-house am persoha5 az
quainted with who served four and one-lan years
two years In Company X, 9th New YORK. TWO
years In Company X, 10th New-fork, ana Elk mohths
in Company X, Cd New-YOrk Cavalry. lie was In
MANY battles and seven months in Libby Prison
His discharge did not read for disability; he had
hospital record for only three weeks. lie returned
10 civil life and for moro than twenty years has tried
to be a good citizen He taught school for sixteen
terms AMI worked on the farm during the summers
lie married and is the father OF seven living children,
the eldest twelve years of age the youngest SIX
months. All these years he has been reminded oi his
army life by rheumatism, neuralgia, apoplexy anu
paralysis Eight years ago he applied Tor pension.
After tedious years of waiting his Application was
denied. lie is Free MasOn but does not attend
lodge; is a member of the NJ Z. Church, but keeps
away from meetings. and would Ike 10 belong 10 inc
o. A. T. They are all luxuries which he cannot
afford For the past seven winters with one or TWO
exceptonsJ he and his family have lived upon meal,
potatoes and fruit without sugar; no grease OF any
kind. / have known OF his going 10 the WOODS u
cut fuel OH a cold winters day, having only chunk
OF meal cake to eat Pride sustained hm. But,
alas the past winter showed his utter desttuton-
Sickness laid its mercess hand so forciby upon him
that the poomaser, the G. A. r. and private charity
had TO winter him and his family
| am that individual. i helped save this Nation,
running my life and prospects, and would do Just tho
same again, if l could, and the country wanted me-
our country is very wealthy, and l helped make is
So 1t was long time before tho country could
tension the survivors of previous wars, because tha
Government was poor We boys want you, Cncle
sam. TO give US a service pension. My case can DO
paraeled ten thousand times. Are you going I'd
wait until all gone, except few OF the Toys VINO
enlisted in tho last days Of the and received
81 800 bounty, who went as far as the capital OF
their own state and merely had a pleasure trip nc
your expensel For shame! Ii Is an eternal shame
10 have one OF the boys In blue die In poOr-h0lse.
1t Is lasting disgrace TO justice and equity 10 let
those who hungry in rebel pens now lack bread
Don't you know that tho men who marched to tho
sea who were In Burnsides "saughter-pcn" who
were I'm the Chickahominy swami and Andersonvile-
don't you know that many OF them arc dcstitutcl
They have patiently borne reverses; but don't you
know that they being wronged To tie disgrace Of
this land
for one protest against such treatment Do NOT
wait until we arr all dead, except a few who
not disabled by exposure Do not give Us 'pauper'
pension, but give service pension TO all who served
one year. We know that We entitled 10 It, 1t
l. shame that many Of the lads have bad To do
I'm poverty because YOU have been so slow In paying
your debts Manhood, not wealth. saved this Nation.
Don't you let the organs of corporate wealth blind
you to necessity of doing justice. Socialism il
active, and you may have need for conservative
soldiers. have nothing TO say against paying
pensions to those that have disability discharges
but let me tell you, 1t was healthy soldiers who did
the business.
state emphatcally that there is not one Instance
under my observation of q man serving through tho
war who did not out of 1t more less disabled
The class OF who would oppose granting n service
pension during the are composed Of those who
sent substitutes, paid $500 and reoiced In Union de-
feats. To-day they turning out from Office men
who saved the Nation and are putting in their places
those who tried 10 destroy our country. What arc
we coming to ,. VoLNEY NUDGE.